Have you ever felt an overwhelming amount of sadness or a constant feeling of anxiousness? These are both completely normal displays of human emotions, but when these feelings begin to occur consistently they can impair our everyday lives.
Mental Health conditions are very common for teens, but they are also something that can be supported. In the article “Important Teen Mental Health Statistics for Parents” by Polaris Teen Center, a residential mental health treatment center for adolescents and teens in California, around one in five teens ages 12 to 18 suffer from at least one mental health disorder. In today’s society, mental health has received a lot more attention, yet many adults still dismiss the idea of their child or a child they know possibly having a mental health disorder.
As a teenager, I feel that the issues that teens suffer from are very real and can be undermined by being passed off as nothing more than regular teen angst simply because we are young. In The article, “Teen Mental Health: How to Know When Your Child Needs Help” by the American Academy of Pediatrics mentions some common issues teens face, such as ADHD, anxiety, and depression.These issues are mostly stemmed from stress, which is one of the main causes for mental health struggles.
For me, I know that I am mostly stressed about school or friendships/relationships because these are things that are important to me right now. Although there are more important things in life that we may experience when we get older, that does not mean our current ones should be undermined or swept under the rug.
There are many misconceptions about the term “mental disorder”. It can be deemed in a more negative light, which is what causes certain stigmas. One example of a mental health stigma is that depressed people are lazy or they don’t try hard enough. I believe this is from a lack of understanding and awareness, which causes adults to judge young people or treat them unfairly. The key, then, is for adults to become more open-minded and educated. In doing so, they would understand more of what causes teens to go through these problems and discover ways they can help.
In The article “Four things you can do to support your teen’s mental health” from UNICEF, explains simple methods parents can use to help support their teen suffering from a mental health disorder. One great example that they recommend is to “remind them that you are there for them, no matter what, and that you want to hear how they are feeling and what they are thinking. A few simple words of encouragement can help them feel comfortable sharing their feelings with you.” As a teen, I can confirm that this could be very uplifting, having reassurance that your parents are there for you and always willing to hear how you are feeling would be very beneficial to someone dealing with mental health challenges.
Without asking, a parent, educator, or even just a friend, can learn to spot many signs in behavior that could help to determine whether someone is struggling with their mental health. The article “Teen Mental Health: How to Know When Your Child Needs Help” by the American Academy of Pediatrics, identifies some of the signs to look for to know when a teen is struggling. Some examples are academic struggles, signs of alcohol or substance use, and loss of interest in things they usually enjoy. Once this behavior begins, it is important someone steps in and takes action, whether that be talking to them yourself or recommending them to someone they can talk to.
Therapy is also often stigmatized, as people have some preconceived notions related to paying someone to sit and listen to your problems. While the idea may not be ideal for some, I think therapy is a great way for a person to express how they feel to someone who will not judge you and whose sole purpose is to help you. The article “What is Psychotherapy? by the American Psychiatric Association, states, “Research shows that most people who receive psychotherapy experience symptom relief and are better able to function in their lives.” This goes to show the majority of people who receive these services heavily benefit from it.
My hope for the future is that, as a society, we learn to prioritize our mental health, begin to better understand the importance of it, and understand just how it can affect us and those around us.
